Shabbir to play second Test

Shabbir Ahmed is set to play the second Test against West Indies despite being reported for a suspected illegal bowling action. Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan team manager, confirmed that Shabbir will feature in the XI. "I think he will be in because he can continue to play during the period his action again undergoes remedial measures," Reuters reported him as saying. "We might also ask for the assistance of the ICC in our endeavour to correct his bowling action."

Shabbir had a reasonably good match in Barbados, taking 5 for 136 even as Pakistan were thrashed by 276 runs, but the problems for him came later when David Shepherd and Darrell Hair, the on-field umpires, and Ranjan Madugalle, the match referee, reported him for his suspect action. Shabbir's international career has been dogged by this problem - he had earlier been reported in September 1999, and then again in January 2004. Under the revised bowling-review process, Shabbir's action will now be analysed by a member of the ICC's panel of human-movement specialists, who will then submit a report to the ICC confirming whether Shabbir's action falls within the 15 degrees of elbow-straightening.

Meanwhile, Altaf also said that Pakistan were trying to ensure Yousuf Youhana's return for the second Test in Jamaica, which starts on June 3. Youhana returned home before the first Test as his father was unwell. "We are trying but I can't confirm if he would be able to make it back in time for the match." Youhana has previously indicated that he wouldn't be able to make it back to the West Indies in time for the match.

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